While ward 41 of Madurai Corporation houses a number of small commercial establishments, which include petty shops, workshops and hardware stores, there is no public toilet in the area.
“Every morning, around 2,000 construction workers assemble here and wait for work allotment. They are all daily wage earners and they need a public toilet,” says a garage owner on Narimedu Main Road.
He further recalls that there used to be a sanitation complex of the adjoining ward in close proximity but it has ceased to function two years ago. “Anyone who comes to the shops looking for work or engaged in work are forced to use the open area to ease themselves,” he adds.
No major problemsResidents note with satisfaction that by and large their ward does not have many major problems. “Except for a few streets that need roads, there is no long-pending infrastructural development issue which needs to be addressed,” says All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) councillor Indrani Periasamy.
According to her, most of the main roads and by-lanes are in good condition with bitumen or paver block cover. Roads in parts of Thendral Nagar and Krishnapuram Colony have been recently laid with paver blocks.
Bharathiar Street, Cholan Street and Pulithevan Street are, however, in need of new tar roads as they were last repaired over a decade back, the councillor says. “We have recently submitted a proposal and hope that work will be carried out soon as people are facing difficulties during rains,” she says.
Residents of Bharathiar Street also point out that the road is full of potholes. “With a light shower, it becomes impossible for two-wheelers to navigate through the area,” says S. Mari, a resident.
Owners of commercial establishments on Krishnapuram Main Road are worried that while the roads are in good condition, the heavy flow of traffic and parking of vehicles on both sides of the road cause them inconvenience.
“A system of one-side parking should be introduced in the area as it becomes impossible to move through the traffic during peak hours. Since there are a lot of commercial establishments, it will help our business,” says V.S. Sivanesan, a cement trader.
Open drainAn open drain, a part of which falls in ward 41, has been a bone of contention for many residents. “While there is a constant discharge of sewage, it has become a dumping ground for garbage also. It has not been cleared for many years and is a serious health hazard to residents. And it is a fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes,” says a tailoring shop owner. He further says that work on covering the drainage channel with concrete slabs has never begun.
Ms. Indrani says the open drain flowed through different wards and action on clearing it is getting delayed.
Responding to questions about her connect with residents, Ms. Indrani says since she is also an office-bearer in the women’s wing of the AIADMK, she is not able to undertake frequent visits to the ward to interact with people. “I, however, ensure that I am available over phone and see that problems of sewage overflow and collection of garbage are taken care of.”
